By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
NINE Somalis have been arrested by the Immigration Department for being in possession of multiple national identity documents.
Meanwhile, the immigration has arrested several illegal immigrants from various countries.
The nine suspects were arrested from different houses within Ndeke Township in Ndola on the Copperbelt during a routine operation conducted by the immigration on Wednesday.
Immigration public relations officer Namati Nshinka disclosed in a statement yesterday that of the nine arrested, six had multiple documents of national identity including Somali, Tanzanian and Mozambican documents.
The other four had in their possession Tanzanian travel cocuments which had endorsements requiring further verification from the ports of entry where they were allegedly issued.
In another development, eight Tanzanians, a Kenyan and three Malawians have been arrested in Nakonde, Lusaka and Isoka for unlawful entry and stay.
The immigration on Wednesday arrested a Briton for unlawful stay.
The man was intercepted at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport as he attempted to exit Zambia.
It was discovered that he may have been staying in the country illegally since 1988.
In another development, the Immigration in Kitwe has arrested a Ugandan for unlawful stay.
He was arrested together with a Zambian alleged to have been harbouring the suspected illegal immigrant while a Somali has been arrested for using a fake South African passport.
In Serenje a Congolese has been arrested for unlawful stay.
Meanwhile, the immigration deported nine illegal immigrants from the country between Tuesday and Wednesday.
They include three Tanzanians and two Somalis, two Egyptians who were removed by Immigration at Kasumbalesa and another in Chingola.
In another development, the immigration refused entry to 19 foreign nationals for failing to satisfy various entry requirements for Zambia.
Mr Nshika said the nationals include 14 Tanzanians, three Burundese and a South Sudanese.
They were denied entry by the Immigration at Kasumbalesa Border Control and Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.
And a six Rwandese were on Wednesday handed-over to United Nations High Commission for Refugees for relocation to Maheba Refugee Camp.